Awesome Authors

Awesome Authors is a series of events featuring some of the UK’s best-known children’s writers, running from February through till March. Awesome Authors is brought to you by Literature Development at Derby City Council (supported by Arts Council England) and the Guildhall Theatre.

Bali Rai
Date: Sunday 10 February
Time: 5pm
Venue: Guildhall Theatre, Market Place
Cost: £9 full price, £7 concessions, £5 under-18s

Bali Rai is an established and distinctive voice in young adult fiction, writing both funny and challenging stories that are known for their exploration of real life issues that affect teenagers and adults alike. At this special event Bali will be talking about all his novels, three of which are the award winning ‘(un)arranged marriage’, ‘Rani and Sukh’ and ‘The Crew’ as well as answering questions about his writing.

This year ‘Dream On’ has been selected as one of the twelve books available to all Year 7s across the UK as part of the Booked Up campaign. He says he is still waiting for Bollywood to call….

Anne Fine
Date: Sunday 17 February
Time: 5pm
Venue: Guildhall Theatre, Market Place
Cost: £9 full price, £7 concessions, £5 under-18s

Since her first book was published in the mid 1970s, Anne Fine has been acknowledged as a top author in the children’s book world, and has now written more than forty books and won virtually every major award going, including the Carnegie Medal.

She is also very funny and young readers love her lack of hypocrisy about the family and her honesty about how people behave. Her books for older children include: ‘The Tulip Touch’, winner of the Children’s Book Award and ‘Madame Doubtfire’ (filmed as ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ starring Robin Williams). Her most recent books are ‘The Road of Bones’ (2006). Which
was shortlisted fir the Carnegie Medal, and ‘The Killer Cat Strikes Back’ (2007).

Frank Cottrell Boyce
Date: Sunday 9 March
Time: 5pm
Venue: Guildhall Theatre, Market Place
Cost: £9 full price, £7 concessions, £5 under-18s

Frank Cottrell Boyce is a successful British screenwriter whose film credits include ‘Welcome to Sarajevo’, ‘Hilary and Jackie’, ‘24 Hour Party People’ and ‘Grow Your Own’. ‘Millions’, his debut novel, won the 2004 Carnegie Medal and was shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award. His second novel, ‘Framed’, was shortlisted for the 2005 Whitbread Children’s Fiction Award and also the 2005 Carnegie Medal. This year ‘Framed’ has been selected as one of the twelve books available to all Year 7s across the UK as part of the ‘Booked Up’ campaign.

To book tickets call the Assembly Rooms Box Office on 01332 255800, Typetalk 18001 01332 255800. Alternatively you can book online at www.assemblyrooms-derby.co.uk

For more information please contact Catherine Rogers or Alex Davis, Literature Development Officers on 01332 715434, minicom 01332 256666